The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-01-07
In SOUTH AMERICA.
A TRAVELLERS NOTES WHILE IN
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.

THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
A Normal School with Two American
Lady Teachers-CompuIsory Education
Laws-A Young college" Student
System of Common Schools.
Salta is well built and thriving place
On two sides of the plaza alone noticed
three large buildings being constructed.
Great activity prevails on all Sides and
coming from Buenos Ayres, where this
place is looked upon as out of the world,
was agreeably disappointed. After
some trouble found muleteer to take
me to Potosi, distant 468 miles. / was
to travel with the train. This meant
slow work. Making the bargain l asked
his price After considerable delibera-
ton he said he wanted $57 agreed tell
ing him / would pay $50 and, if he
treated me well, so more on reaching
Potosi. This he refused, until a friend
explained to him that l was offering
more than he asked. Finally he con
scented, but" seemed doubtful. This
l thought was bad beginning. had to
purchase bedding, provisions, and gen
eral supply of things. 1 had a saddle,
which proved valuable. We started
from Salta on San Juan's day, the feast
day of the patron saint of the place. The
church bells were ringing, and they had
a procession on the main street. The
first day out we reached a place called
Cabana, but camped out. In fact, in
sixteen days travel to Potosi, only slept
two nights in a house. The country,
while not offering grand scenery is in
teresting-mOstly cultivated and well
populated. The farmhOuSes are mostly
comfortable, but not very elaborate in
construction. The third day early we
reached Jujuy, the capital of the prov
ince Of the same name.
PIONEERS OF EDUCATION.
This place has more primitive appear
ance, being more like frontier town.
Cattle were grazing in the plaza, and the
houses Were all built of adobe. Still the
town boasts of a normal school with two
American lady teachers. On asking the
hotel keeper for the location of their resi-
dence, he showed me the street, telling
me that / would know the house be-
cause the windows had white curtains,
The only ones in the place. 1 found it by
chat description and enjoyed very
agreeable hour with the two ladies.
1t was a great treat to meet two intelli-
gent American girls in this out of the
way place. They had their little sitting
room, papered by themselves and cozily
arranged. 1t was like going away from
nome almost to leave them. On cOnvers-
ng with some leading persons of Jujuy
was astOnished to find fierce opposition
prevailing here also against the clericals.
With the exception of the province of
cordoba and in part in Salta, like opin-
ons prevail overwhelmingly in the Ar
Eentine Republic. / can only express
this on the ground that Spanish rule and
the clergy, are looked upon as identical
y the masses. Often have had Argen-
tines remark to me, eve are Americans,
lot Spaniards, and if we are descendants
from that country, we have nothing in
common with it, Spain has never bene-
1ted us. She has only robbed us, and
our country only began to advance since
We threw off the yoke of that country"
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
One great factor in the progress of the
Argentine Republic is compulsory public
education. This measure is strictly en-
forced especially in the northern prov
inCes and newer settlements, where the
clergy has had less time to gain footing,
Ind where the central government has
more direct influence. From this l eX-
cept the provinces of BuenOs Ayres and
Santa Fe. In these the foreign element
has done what the government aims to &C
COmplish in the frontier districts.
One evening | reached a place called
Negro Muerto, a station consisting of a
couple of stone houses, coated on the
brow of hill and overlooking some
meager pasture. Tired out, lay down
On a bench in the house In doing so,
newspaper dropped out of my pocket. A
boy, some ten years old, picked it up,
and began reading it. 1 was so aston
ished that, sitting up 1 asked him,
Where did you learn to read?''
SIN college," he answered, adding:
The school is on the other side of the
lill" l became quite interested. The
boy informed me that all the school
BOOKS, states, paper, ETC., are supplied to
lhe scholars free of charge. He also told
ne his father was at the time in jail for
shFee days, because he had kept him out
Of school for week.
1t is true that the school system was
originally copied from that of the United
States and introduced by Sarmiento,
after an extended visit to our country. 1t
was through his efforts that American
teachers were first brought to the Argen-
zine Republic. He himself, beginning
life as school teacher, made public edu-
iation his life study, and whether presi-
lent member of congress or private citi-
zen he increasingly labored in that cause.
\ number of public schools all over the
epublic, even one at Valparaiso, Chill,
lave been named "Ecsuela Sarmiento.'
NOTsG Con-, IL